Net zero reliance on China poses national security risk, Labour warned

Dan Marks, the Rusi report’s author, said ministers should be wary of the influence this would give Beijing over Britain, not only through supply chains but also vulnerabilities through potential software updates that were regularly required to maintain equipment. He stressed the risk of China directly threatening the UK’s kit, or of using access to IT systems to sabotage equipment, was low because it would damage the reputation of Chinese firms globally. But he added: “As we saw with Russia threatening to cut off gas supplies to Europe, if the stakes are high enough than these kinds of considerations go out the window.”